July 26, 2006

The Week In Europe

The Second Qualifying Round of this season’s Champions League began yesterday and there was really only one surprise through the first leg. Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol held on for a 1-1 draw against Russian side Spartak Moscow. There still remains little doubt that the Red-Whites will still go through.

Elsewhere, former European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade needed an own goal to take a 1-0 victory against eircom League champions Cork City. Hearts marked their debut in the competition with an emphatic 3-0 win over Bosnian champions Siroki Brijeg and last season’s UEFA Cup semifinalists Steaua Bucharest defeated Gorica 2-0.